Mother Was Right

Mother was right - having good posture is important. Poor posture is often the culprit of low back pain or neck pain by putting increased stress on all the muscles and joints in the entire body, which makes our bodies work harder with each movement that we do and can lead to "overuse" injuries. This is particularly the case as we age. But what is correct posture? Next time you are standing or sitting, notice how you hold your body.

While we know you can't be in perfect posture 100 percent of the time, making even small changes can make a big difference. You should aim for the following posture:

Standing -

• Feet shoulder width apart with knees in an unlocked position
• Shoulders back and down (so if you were to stand against a wall, your shoulder blades would be flat), with your bully button pulled in towards your spine
• Head face forward with your nose parallel to floor and ears in line with your shoulders

Sitting -

• Both feet flat on the floor (no crossing your legs)
• Knees and hips both at 90 degree angles, belly button pulled in toward your spine
• In a good supportive chair that maintains the curve of your lower back (or use a rolled-up towel to support your back)

Keeping shoulders back flat against the chair back

Back pain can sometimes be inevitable. If someone you know has chronic back pain and is not currently receiving physical therapy, encourage them to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  to set up an appointment for a FREE ASSESSMENT!